9

The door thudded behind Philip as it slid closed. Skye wished he could stay. Or that she could go. Her being stuck here, needing to obey this Saul man, was ridiculous. She didn’t even know him and didn’t care about him or his beliefs. Getting home was more important, but now she was stuck. The fault was hers for wanting to return to Stonehenge. If Philip didn’t hate her before, he sure must hate her now.

Leah stood quietly—almost nervously—near the windows. She looked down, her fingers clasped tightly.

Skye’s heart softened. She’d placed a lot on the poor girl by telling her that she wasn’t Hebat. It was a burden for a kid to bear, especially when Leah knew Skye and Philip were trying to escape her master.

“Have you worked here long?” Skye stumbled over the word worked. How sad for this poor kid to be forced into labor, but it was a good reminder to Skye that she wasn’t in the twenty-first century anymore, and she needed to play the part.

Leah looked up. She seemed relieved at Skye’s question. “Yes, since my sixth year. My mawmaw works outside the city. I miss her very much.”

“Outside the city?” That sounded terrible. “Do you get to see her often?”

Leah shook her head. “She works many long hours for Master Ezekiel. She helps pluck the olives, and works in the kitchen.” She didn’t seem sad or upset, only resigned.

Skye’s chest tightened. She knew exactly how Leah felt when it came to a mom who worked a lot. “Who is Ezekiel?”

“He is a council member. Master Saul and Mistress Lilla do not like Ezekiel, but he was very kind to me. He used to give us slivers of his fruit.”

So, the city was run by a council, and this Ezekiel ran an olive farm outside the city walls. And Ezekiel was kind? Leah hadn’t said the same about Saul or Lilla.

Leah gave her a small smile. It lit up her eyes and warmed Skye’s heart.

A knock sounded on the monstrous doors, and Leah snapped to attention. She hurried forward, took hold of the giant handle on each panel, and pulled with her whole body.

Lilla breezed in, never looking at Leah. “Hebat, you are looking well.” She smiled pleasantly, waving at Skye’s more appropriate clothing.

Skye felt as if she was standing in front of a school principal. She almost curtsied but stopped herself just in time. She was supposed to be the superior here. Instead, she nodded once. “Thank you for your kindness in providing it.”

Lilla’s smile widened. “It is our honor to provide you with anything you should need.”

Anything?

“I do have one request.” It was worth a shot. “Fresh air. I do not like being caged inside this room, with a guard posted outside the windows and door.”

“Oh, forgive me, Hebat.” Odd that Lilla never referred to her as mistress, as the others did. “However,” Lilla went on, “it is for your own safety. We do have an inner garden. Would you like to see it?”

“Yes.” Anything that got her out of here. At least she could look around as they walked through the enormous house, tracking which hallways led to where.

Lilla bowed. “As you wish. Follow me.” She glided to the door, and Skye hurried to follow.

Leah tagged along too, but much farther behind.

The halls rose above her as she followed Lilla. Skye didn’t know what to call the place. It definitely wasn’t a normal home, but wasn’t quite a palace, either. The stucco walls fascinated her. She’d seen stucco in her neighbors’ homes, but this wasn’t like that at all. It was real mud. Thick. Rough.

Beautiful. She ran her fingers over the gritty texture as they walked, and chill bumps pricked her arms.

After turning to the right outside of her room, they followed the long hallway until they reached the end of the corridor and a small staircase, much smaller than the grand marble staircase at the front.

Lilla led them down the staircase, through another small but graceful hallway, and to an arched doorway that led outside. The moon shone brightly overhead, casting a soft glow over the area. Small torches had been placed strategically throughout the garden, further lighting the area. In spite of the dim light, the relentless heat made sweat rundown Skye’s forehead.

Lilla seemed unfazed as she moved to a stone bench near a small tree. Skye followed, wishing she could shed a layer or two of her robes.

Leah didn’t sit, just stood waiting, hands clasped in front of her, ever at the ready.

Poor Leah.

“Do you enjoy the gardens?” Lilla’s smooth voice broke Skye’s thoughts, and Skye glanced around for the first time. The house walls surrounded her on three sides with many arched doorways leading back into various spots of the home. The fourth side of the garden was open to the street, and a guard was posted there as well.

A green and glorious menagerie surrounded them. Bird cages hung from hooks and even a crocodile lounged in a shady, fenced pool. Banana trees grew to the left, and a stone pathway had been laid over the dusty ground.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “It must take much work.” The words felt strange on her tongue, but she was starting to realize that playing the part meant sounding the part, too. Hopefully, it would buy her enough time to let Philip find their way home.

Lilla gave her what was surely the sincerest smile Skye had seen on the woman. “Much work is true, but I enjoy overseeing it immensely. The bushes and flowers are ever overgrowing, requiring constant pruning and a watchful eye so they do not grow out of control. But I do not mind, for tending my garden is my gift to the gods.” She bowed slightly then stared at Skye expectantly.

Skye bit her lip. “The beauty does not go unnoticed,” she mumbled, not sure what else to say.

Lilla cocked her head toward Skye, and a tendril of jet black hair slipped from under her headdress. “What are your favorite aspects? Do you have a treasured type of vegetation?”

Skye’s mouth went dry. Staying here much longer would mess her up. She didn’t even know what kind of vegetation grew in the desert in ancient days. “I like roses. Have you ever seen them?”

Lilla’s eyes widened. “I have only heard stories. It is a flower, no?”

“That’s right,” Skye said.

A determined look came over Lilla’s face, and she nodded once. “I will make remembrance of this.”

“Oh no, don’t worry about me. I’m not asking for roses or anything.” She didn’t want anyone going out of their way to give her gifts. Unless it was a gift to get her out of here.

But Lilla shook her head. “Take no worries, Hebat.” Without warning, she turned to Leah. “Girl!” She snapped her fingers. “Bring us drink. We thirst.”

Skye didn’t thirst at all, but she didn’t say so.

Leah hurried back the way they’d come.

They sat quietly for a few seconds. Skye shifted uncomfortably as the weirdness of her situation enveloped her. Lilla didn’t seem to notice the awkwardness of sitting with a stranger in silence, but then again, she might be good at hiding her discomfort. Unlike Skye.

She eyed Lilla in the light of the bright moon. Something about her struck Skye as bad. Mean. Unkind.

If they’d met each other in the halls of Skye’s high school, Skye would probably avoid her. Big time.

She and Philip needed to get back to the marketplace as soon as they could. Figure out a way to return home.

But what if they couldn’t do it? Couldn’t find the right spot? Or spoke the wrong phrase?

She swallowed her fears as the seconds ticked past. “Can I see the rest of the gardens?” she blurted out. Sitting with Lilla was nerve-wracking.

Lilla stood gracefully as if she were an ancient spirit who wasn’t confined to bending and moving like normal humans. Skye rose, trying to look half as sophisticated.

Definitely had to work on that, especially if she was to convince the guests at her honorary dinner that she was who they thought she was. Even thinking of the dinner made more sweat pour down her forehead, and wetness was beginning to gather at the small of her back.

Lilla led them through the zig-zagging stone pathway. They passed the crocodile in its pit—Skye stayed as far away as she could manage—and another small pond with brightly colored fish. As they rounded a corner of greenery, Skye was struck by the scent of huge white flowers, small orange flowers, and a myriad of mixed flowers.

She gasped, and Lilla smiled. Again, it was a sincere smile. She obviously took pride in her work, which was all that seemed to defrost her chilly heart.

“It is beautiful, is it not?” Lilla asked.

“Yes.” Skye stared in wonder at the grandeur of it all.

“Flowers please you, then?” Lilla asked. Again, she had that strange, determined look on her face.

Confusion trickled in as a warning played in Skye’s mind. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but Lilla’s questions bothered her. “Yes, I like them very much.”

Now Lilla grinned. “I am joyous to hear this.”

Leah found them a few minutes later, and they returned to their bench for a cool drink of water. It wasn’t clear, definitely not as clean as the water coming out of their filtered fridge back home, but Skye tried to ignore the possible contamination as she sipped.

Leah took the cup from her when she’d finished, then Lilla’s, before returning to the kitchen.

“Have you had enough air?” Lilla asked. “We want to be sure you are prepared for tonight’s feast.” She emphasized the last word.

Nerves twisted in Skye’s stomach. How big would this event be? How many people would be there to ask her questions she couldn’t answer?

She pushed away the fears and followed Lilla inside.

Leah met them back in Skye’s room, carrying a fresh pitcher of water.

Sweat dripped down her own forehead, and as soon as Lilla had shut them in, Skye took the water from Leah. She poured a cup and handed it to Leah. “Drink. You are thirsty.”

Leah’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No, Mistress. It is for you.”

“And I choose to give it to you.”

Still Leah refused.

Skye sighed. “Things are different here.” She wanted to get home. Needed to get home, to a place where people weren’t treated this way. Where everyone had worth, even if they didn’t always know or believe it.

Leah cocked her head to the side. “Different from where you come from? From the home of the gods?”

Skye froze. She had explained to Leah the truth. That Skye wasn’t a god, there had been a misunderstanding, and she and Philip were trying to make things right. Didn’t Leah remember?

It was no use. Just as Leah had refused the water, she was refusing to believe their story. “Different from where I come from, yes.” Skye relented. “Back home, if I offer water to a thirsty person, that person would accept.”

Leah’s gaze clouded over, but she didn’t accept the drink. “Would you like to rest before I prepare you for the dinner? It will start soon.”

Skye sighed again. “Sure, why not?”

Leah frowned, confused.

“You don’t have to answer that. It was rhetorical,” Skye explained.

Leah still looked confused.

Skye put her hand on the girl’s shoulder. “Thank you for everything you’re doing for me. I appreciate it very much.”

Leah’s face brightened, and Skye allowed her to help her take off a few layers so she could rest.

Philip needed to return, so that they could get out of this place. Hopefully, it would be soon.